Saint Paul After Dark: A Night Photography Exhibit | Jared Arvin

His latest exhibition, Saint Paul After Dark, debuts this April at Calendula Gallery, offering a cinematic glimpse into the city’s transformation after sundown.

With an average of 30 miles a week on foot, Arvin has immersed himself in Saint Paul’s nocturnal landscape—traversing the East Side, West 7th, the West Side, Downtown, and Lowertown through every season and condition. His lens captures not just places, but the way they change after dark. A familiar street, empty and humming under flickering streetlights. A historic building, its past whispering through neon reflections. A late-night bus, moving through the last stretches of a city that never truly sleeps.

The exhibition features a striking blend of color and black & white photography, all taken after dark. Whether rendered in vivid neon hues or stark monochrome contrasts, each image tells a unique story—highlighting the mood, texture, and character of the city when the lights take over and the streets quiet down.

“In daylight, we take the city for granted. At night, it reveals something deeper—a history, a presence, a different kind of beauty,” says Arvin. “The same streets we rush through during the day become stories waiting to be told when the lights come on and the crowds disappear.”

A co-owner of Calendula Gallery and a monthly contributor to The Downtown Saint Paul Voice, Arvin is known for his atmospheric, noir-inspired photography that blends realism with a sense of mystery and depth. His work has been featured in public and private collections, with installations in local businesses and galleries throughout Saint Paul.

The exhibition is free and open to the public, with select works available for purchase.

Gallery Hours:

Weekends 10AM – 4PM

During St. Paul Spring Art Crawl:
Friday April 25,  5PM – 9PM
Saturday April 26, 10AM – 8PM
Sunday April 27, 10AM – 5PM

Lowertown First Fridays May 2, 6PM – 9PM